A German tourist was stabbed on Friday in central Amman and hospitalised in stable condition, Jordanian police said, as a minister ruled out terrorist motives. "A German tourist was stabbed today in the city centre near Al-Husseini mosque and was rushed to hospital," police Major Mohammed Khatib said, according to AFP. "The tourist underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition."

A security source said the 63-year-old victim had been stabbed with a knife. A policeman patrolling the area immediately arrested the attacker, Khatib said. Interior Minister Eid Fayez later told the state-run television that the attack had "nothing to do with terrorism." "The attacker is a crazy person who acted alone and stabbed the tourist with a knife, and this has nothing do with terrorism. Our kingdom is safe, and such things could happen in any country," Fayez said.

"I visited the German citizen and he is in a stable condition," he added.